The party was so tasteful, and really fancy. But goddamn, I wish someone had told me before that a house filled with 300 people was loud as fuck. It gave me such a headache.
Bill was running around talking to people, being the introverted extrovert he is. He was so cute around other people, always so happy and energized. It reminds me of a child in the best way possible.
Once the party was over, me and Bill immediately went and changed into our pajamas. He turned on Love Actually and we cuddled up on the couch under our gray weighted blanket.
Love Actually is our favorite movie to watch. It's the cutest. Bill is the tough looking guy who seems like he would love action movies with guns and shit, but he likes rom-coms more than I do.
After the movie was over, we laid there, my face buried in his chest. Being with him is just so effortlessly comfortable. So much more safe than anyone has ever made me feel before.
******
I woke up around 2 a.m. The movie had been over already, and we were supposed to head up to bed, but neither of us had wanted to get up, so we just stayed there.
Bill was still sleeping when I woke up. He looked so peaceful and innocent, like a baby, that I didn’t want to move to risk the chance of him waking up. I would feel so bad if I woke him, so I just layed there.
After a few minutes, Bill woke up too. He had some major bedhead going on; his hair was everywhere. We shared a sweet smile.
“Good morning, darling,” he said.
“Good morning,” I replied.
“How’s your sleep?” he asked.
“It was ok, how was yours?” I asked.
“Eh, I mean, it was ok. I’m just super hungry right now,” Bill said.
“Well, do you want me to make us food?” I asked. “I’m hungry, too, it wouldn’t be a big deal.”
“We can cook together. Let’s make some waffles,” he replied.
I nodded. “Sounds good,” I said.
We went into the kitchen and I took out the pancake mix from the cabinet. We mixed it up. It looked perfect until Bill spilled the whole bowl on the floor and slipped in it.
He fell right on his butt. His jaw dropped and then he burst out laughing, throwing his head back like a little kid, like it was the funniest thing ever.
I went to walk to get the mop from the linen closet but I slipped in the batter and fell right on top of my husband.
He started laughing even harder than he already was. There was batter all over the floor and all over our backs. He scooped me up into his arms, hugging me and pulling me close to him while laughing.
After a few seconds, I pulled back. I saw his hand move for a second and then I felt a cold wave splash on my face.
That little bitch! He smeared waffle batter on my face!
I shoved my hand in the batter and splashed some on his face, with a devious smile.
He gasped. “You little shithead!” he said. He started to ball up some of the batter and I got up and started running away from him.
I was giggling while Bill laughed as he ran after me. We were leaving footprints all over our gorgeous hardwood floors.
We were acting like children, and it was my favorite. Little moments like this made everything worth it. Our fertility issues, being judged by our age gap, his business depression, my childhood trauma. None of it mattered when I was with Bill.
I couldn’t wait to spend my whole life next to this gorgeous, amazing, perfect guy.
We cleaned up the floor when we were done messing around, but left the batter on our clothes and faces. We made a new batch and used the heart-shaped waffle maker for our midnight snack.
Bill sliced up some strawberries, got out the powdered sugar, and warmed up some chocolate syrup to top our waffles with.
The waffles were done cooking, and Bill topped them while I poured our decaf coffee into our mugs.
We sat down at the island on the high top stools, eating in silence. A comfortable silence. The safe kind of silence.
Until he cleared his throat. Then things took a turn for the worst.
“Hey, babe, I have something to tell you. Before you get mad, I’ve known for a few days, but I couldn’t find the right time to tell you, with the wedding and everything,” he told me.
“Bill, why would I be mad? I completely understand,” I said.
“Okay,” he said, inhaling deeply. “So you know how I got home super late last week, right?”
I nodded. “Yes, of course I do. I was worried sick,” I told him.
“Okay, so. I’ve been having heart pain recently and chest stiffness, so I went to see a cardiologist. Turns out I have heart disease and high blood pressure, so I really need to start taking it easy. She said that a lot of high activity could trigger a heart attack, so basically we can’t have any fun. I know this isn’t easy to hear, and I’m so sorry for not telling you sooner,” he told me.
I was speechless. My mouth hung open in the midst of my shock.
“I’m so sorry,” I whispered. A single tear dripped down from my eye. Bill reached up and gently wiped the tear from my cheek and cupped the side of my face. I leaned into his hand, the leftover waffle batter smearing a little bit.
“It’s okay. We can do this. I’m getting meds to help with it, so it will be under control more,” he said, attempting to reassure me.
“All I need is you. Until death do us part, right?” I asked.
A small smile crept onto his lips. “Of course, babe. I wouldn’t have it any other way,” he told me.
He wrapped his arms around me, pulling me in close to his warm body. I closed my eyes and let go of a breath I hadn’t realized had been kept inside my lungs.
We left our empty plates on the island and Bill carried me upstairs to the master bedroom to get cleaned up. I washed my face and started a load of laundry with our waffle batter covered clothes and changed into a pair of gray silk pajamas.
I climbed into bed next to Bill, cuddling up close next to my husband.
“I love you, forever and always. You’re my entire life, Rebekah. Nothing else even compares to how much you mean to me, and I really hope you know that,” he whispered right as I closed my eyes, drifting off to sleep.
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